Export restrictions ruled unconstitutional

Mark S. Miller markm@caplet.com
Fri, 07 May 1999 08:44:26 -0700


At 07:17 AM 5/7/99 , Ka-Ping Yee wrote:
>
>You may have heard this exciting news already, but i wanted to
>make sure you got it!
>
>Daniel Bernstein won his case:
>
>    http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,0-36217,00.html?st.ne.lh..ni
>
>It appears that the decision implies that source code ought to be
>treated like free speech.


The articles I've read so far aren't clear about how safe it is, even in the 
9th circuit, to proceed to ignore the export regs, but the above article's 
quote from defence lawyer Cindy Cohn:

"As a practical matter, the government is not enjoined from applying its 
regulations--except to Bernstein. But we're one step closer to doing away 
with the regulations,"

suggest that perhaps we should wait for the Supreme Court.  Or perhaps not?? 
If it is safe for us, the articles agree it would only be safe in the 9th 
circuit, which does include California.  (What about Arizona?)  Is there any 
more info that could be gathered before making a decision?